New building and development in the County of Stettler appears to be on pace for the similar level as last year.
By the midpoint of 2012, the county issued 43 development permits for a total value of $8,645,000, with 38 residential projects valued at $6,384,000 and five permits for commercial, industrial and institutional for $2,261,000.
“If we continue on residential development, it looks like we’re on target to be similar as last year,” said Johan van der Bank, the director of planning and development.
However, he noted that construction work usually falls after the summer.
“But we will still see strong development in the summer,” said van der Bank.
For the entire year in 2011, the county issued 90 development permits for construction valued at $16,070, which included 79 permits for residential at $7,995,000 and commercial, industrial and institutional at $8,075,000.
Residential growth this year has been tied to new building.
“Most of the people are upgrading and I know there are a few new families moving to the county,’ said Jacinta Donovan, the development officer.
This growth has also been dispersed around the county, said van der Bank.
Two major industrial projects are in the works, with a seed-cleaning operation planning a site in the Warden area and a coal-crushing plant east of Donalda on Highway 53.
This year, the county has already received 13 subdivision applications, after 29 were processed for the entire 2011.
“Usually, we have 45 to 50 a year,” said van der Bank.
The county continues to work with a developer to build a truck stop on Highway 12 on a 15-acre site on the eastern outskirts of the town across from 38 Street, for a proposed convenience store, hotel/motel and restaurant, with smaller lots available.
Last year’s development permit figure includes a $7-million permit for Can Erector, which plans to build a plant for manufacture flare stacks, he said, though the project hasn’t progressed to the building stage.